Dissatisfied with the way a Gram Sabha was conducted and public hearing took place ahead of land acquisition to be done for Adani Power’s proposed power plant in Godda, the JVM has decided to go ahead with its protest. The party would start its indefinite ‘satyagrah’ from April 16 with local villagers affected by the project.
“From the beginning itself, the Government has taken the side of the company by allowing it to reduce land requirement, cutting its price, curtailing conditions put in the Energy Policy and now holding bogus public hearings. The State is going to lose immensely as well as the locals. Since none of our concerns has been addressed and heard, we are compelled to go on indefinite strike at Gayghat where the proposed power plant is coming up,” said party legislator and principal general secretary Pradeep Yadav.
Following the public hearing conducted ahead of environmental clearance last month, the company is in the process of acquiring the land for erecting the power plant. The MlA claiming the public hearing fake, said that not more than 40 per cent of the land holders of the affected villages are in the favour of the power plant.
“Over 600 raiyats have given in writing their dissent. The public hearing and gram sabhas were conducted by using force and brutalities. Now, they have issued a notification for the land transfer. This is illegal and we are going to protest against the act of the Government and the company,” said Yadav.
The MlA said that the proposed protest at the plant site is going to be indefinite in nature and unless their demand for a fair public hearing is not met, this would continue. Notably, the MlA has also been booked by the administration for creating trouble and inciting violence during the public hearing and chances are he could be arrested in this matter as well.